Misc. Biographies #1

Hamilton county residents and natives appearing in various local history books around the nation.

George S. Andrews

ANDREWS, George S., Johnstown P.O., was born in Sageville, Hamilton County, on the 8th day of March, 1862. He was educated in the common schools and for some years was steward in his father's summer hotel in the Adirondacks. In the year 1882 he came to Johnstown and was a clerk in a grocery store for three years. For about three years he was a glove cutter and about the 1st of January, 1892, he began to manufacture gloves in company with John Johns, under the firm name of Andrews & Johns. On the 3d of July, 1882, he married Rosilla S., fourth daughter of Joseph and Adeline Fish, of the same place. They have two children, namely, George A., and Carrie G.

Source: Frothingham, Washington, ed. History of Fulton County. Pg. 2. (C) 1892. Syracuse, NY. D. Mason & Co., Printers and Publishers.

Descendants of Reuben Baldwin

CHAPTER XIV. - DESCENDANTS OF REUBEN BALDWIN.

REUBEN BALDWIN, son of Ebenezer, born 1806 at Cambridge, Washington County, New York. Married Hannah W. Sloan at Barry (near Montpelier), Washington County, New York, who died at Coin, Iowa, 1887. Our subject moved from Washington County, New York, in an early day to Amity Township, Erie County, Pa., where he lived near his brothers until 1849, when he went to California by the overland route, being one of the early gold seekers of that time; returning by way of the Isthmus and New York City, to his family and brothers in 1852, he soon after moved to Henry County, Ill., where he purchased 375 acres of land, residing there until 1869, when he again moved with his family to Page County, Iowa, purchasing 360 acres of land, where he continued to live until his death, which occurred in 1887. He was honored with the office of Justice of the peace, postmaster under President Lincoln, and was a local minister of the gospel, a man of much energy, courage and marked ability. Their children were eleven in number as follows:
(1) LUCINDA S., born 1833 at Amsterdam, Montgomery County, New York. -
(2) EMILY SYLPHINN, born 1834, at Whitehall, N.Y., died 1836, at Poultney, VT.
(3) EBENEZER, born 1836, at Poultney, Vt. -
(4) LYMAN EMERSON, born 1837, at Hope, Hamilton County, New York. -
(5) THOMAS H., born at Amsterdam, Montgomery County, New York, 1839. -
(6) ELIZABETH EMILY, born 1841, at Hope, Hamilton County, N.Y.; died 1845 at Amity Township, Penna.
(7) ALONZO F., born 1844 at Amity, Erie County, Penna., Last known address, Oxford, Nebraska. Was in the Union army, and has 3 boys and 1 girl, all married.
(8) GEORGE W., born 1845 at Amity, Erie County, Penna., died at Denver, Colo. He left 2 girls.
(9) HIRAM WILLIAM, born 1847, at Venango, Erie Co., Penna., Died 1851 at Amity Township, Penna.
(10) MARY HANNAH, born 1854, at Berlin, Richland Grove, Mercer County, Ill.; died at Lynn, Ill., 1865.
(11) WILLIAM L., born 1856 at Lynn, Ill.; died 1905. Left 1 boy, single.

Lucinda S., daughter of Reuben and Hannah W. Baldwin, who was born in 1833 at Amsterdam, N.Y., and died in 1908, left two daughters: (1) MRS. H.D. RUNYON. (2) MRS. CARL SPAULDING.

Ebenezer, first son of Reuben and Hannah S., born 1836, at Poultney, Vt. Married Marietta Willoughby, 1859, at Cambridge, Ill. Was a soldier in the Union Army. Present address, Liberty, Neb. Had 9 children as follows:
(1) GEORGE F., OF Holton, Kansas. -
(2) LYMAN E., of Liberty, Neb. -
(3) ALICE MAY, born 1866; dead.
(4) EFFIE ELIZABETH, Agenda, Kansas.
(5) EXRA, born 1870; dead.
(6) PERCY, Holton, Kansas. -
(7) REUBEN, born 1877; dead.
(8) SYLVIA E., Lawrence, Kansas. -
(9) EARL RAYMOND, of Woodroad, Minn. -

George F., of Holton, Kansas, born 1861; married Love May, 1891. They had 8 children:
ELMER. CLARENCE. GLEN. LEE. CLIFFORD. LETHA. RUSSELL. MABEL.

Lyman E., of Liberty, Neb., married Mattie R. Harbaugh, 1887. They had 3 children, viz:
EARL. CLEO. HAZEL.
(Earl has one child named Evylin.)

Alice May, born 1866; married Munroe Austin.

Effie Elizabeth of Agenda, Kansas, born 1870; married Augusten Manning, and had 4 children, viz:
GLADYS. MAY. FLOYD. GLEN.
(Gladys has one child.)

Percy, of Holton, Kansas, born 1874; married Lucy Snyder in 1900. Has one child:
HARRY.

Sylvia E., born 1880, of Lawrence, Kansas; married Charles Morris in 1879 [sic]. They have 4 children:
CLYDE. WALTER. GLADYS. THELMA.

Earl Raymond, of Woodroad, Minn.; married Lucy Slater 1903. They have one heir:
FRANK.

Lyman Emerson, son of Reuben and Hannah Baldwin, was born in 1837 at Hope, Hamilton County, New York; married Sarah Elizabeth Peterson in 1868 at Center City, Gilpin County, Colorado, and died at Boulder, Colorado, in 1900. He was in the Union Army. They had a family of 4 children:
(1) HAL SAYRE, born 1869. -
(2) Mary Augusta, born 1871, at Central City, Colorado; died 1872 at same place
(3) HATTIE LULU, born 1872, at Central City, Colorado; died 1895 at Des Moines, Iowa.
(4) LYMAN ELMER, born 1875; married Mattie Hemphill of Salina, Kansas, in 1910 (Manager of the Art Printing Company).

Hal Sayer, born 1869, at White Rock, near Boulder, Colo.; married Lois Stella Patten in 1892 at Des Moines, Iowa, who was born in 1869 at Laramie, Wyoming. They have 5 children:
(1) FANCHON, born 1893, at Des Moines, Iowa.
(2) LILLIAN, born 1895, at Philadelphia, Pa.
(3) JOEL, born 1898, at Springdale, Boulder County, Colo.
(4) HAL, born 1905, at Boulder, Colo.
(5) RUSSELL, born 1907, at Greeley, Colo.

Thomas H., of Coin, Iowa, son of Reuben and Hannah, born 1839, at Amsterdam, N.Y.; married in 1869. His wife died in 1881, and he again married in 1884. Mr. Baldwin enlisted in the 42d Illinois Infantry on July 21, 1861, and was discharged November 52, 1865. Saw service in Missouri, Kentucky, Iowa, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. Was in the Siege of Corinth, Miss., Battle of Stone River, Tenn., Columbia, Tenn., Chickamauga, Ga., Missionary Ridge, Tenn., Dalton, Ga., and Resean, Ga., where he received a severe gunshot wound in the left shoulder, which disabled him for duty for about nine months. His regiment was engaged in many skirmishes and was one of the fighting kind, 70 per cent of their number being killed in battle. He says sometimes we were hungry and cold and wet - our lot was no worse than others who made up the Grand Army of the Republic. Mr. Baldwin had one daughter by his first wife, born 1872, who married H.K. Deighton.

Source: Baldwin, James. Genealogy and Reminiscences of Our Baldwin Family. Pp. 274 - 278. ©1916. Erie, Penna. Universal Printing Co.

[Note: there is more information about Reuben's parents and their ancestry throughout this work.]


Le Roy S. Brown

Brown, Le Roy S., Lisbon Centre, was born at Wells, Hamilton county, March 11, 1854. He received an education in the schools of that vicinity, after which he clerked for Wm. Burnhams & Sons, seven years. He then entered the establishment of E. Spalding, of Boston, as book-keeper, with whom he remained one year, and was also in the same position for a like period in the house of Thos. E. Proctor, of Boston. He then established a mercantile concern in Colton in conjunction with E. Butler, which he conducted for two years, and finally in connection with S. D. Butler established his present store in Lisbon Centre about eleven years ago, and during the past seven years has been sole proprietor. He was appointed postmaster of the village under president Harrison, which position he still occupies. Mr. Brown married in 1881 Anna L. McGary, and they have three children.

Source: "Our Country And Its People: A Memorial Record of St. Lawrence County New York," Gates Curtis, D. Mason & Company, Publishers, Syracuse, NY, ©1894, Pg. 22


William H. Carpenter

WILLIAM H. Carpenter. This gentleman belongs to the firm of Carpenter & Ballard, dealers in grain and coal at Evansville, Rock County, and has long been favorably identified with the business interests of this city.

Mr. Carpenter was born in Hamilton County, near Northville, N.Y., March 22, 1843, and is a son of Allen D. and Mary Ann (WADSWORTH) Carpenter, natives of Vermont and New York respectively. Four sons and three daughters were born to them, of whom all but one are now living; John W., of Janesville; William H.; Mary Ann, the wife of Alexander McKINNEY, of Evansville; Josiah of the town of Union, Rock County; Emma J., the wife of Edwin Winter, of Evansville, Wisconsin [[transcriber's note: looks like there's text missing here. There should be one more living child listed, and it looks like the beginning of the next sentence is missing.]] in the 'fifties, locating in the town of Union, two miles east of Evansville, where he lived until he died in 1860, at the age of forty-seven. His widow survived until 1893, and was seventy-seven at the time of her death. They were both Methodists. The paternal grandfather of William H., Allen D. Carpenter, was a native of England, and came to this country, settling in New York, where he died at the age of eighty; he was the father of four children. Josiah Wadsworth, the father of Mary Ann, mentioned above, is supposed to have come from Ireland, and settled in Hamilton County, N.Y., where he followed farming, and died there an old man; he was the father of thirteen children.

William H. Carpenter was reared on the paternal acres in Hamilton County until he was eleven years of age. He came to Rock County that year, and here he attained his manhood. He had his education in the district school, and in 1864 he bought a farm of 120 acres, upon which he made many permanent and substantial improvements, and was engaged in its cultivation until 1882. That year he moved into Evansville, and seventeen years later he sold the farm. He was an active and busy man through all these years, and though there is but little change and adventure in his career, it has been honorable and creditable throughout.

On Jan. 1, 1865, occurred the marriage of William H. Carpenter and Miss Elizabeth Ballard, daughter of Gailus and Sarah (Felt) Ballard. They became the parents of three children, William, Cora and Grace. William died at the age of seven. Cora is at home, and Grace is a student at the Normal school in Milwaukee. Mr. Carpenter belongs to Union Lodge, No. 32, A.F. & A.M., Evansville Chapter, No. 35, R.A.M., and is a stanch and devoted member of the order. He is a Republican, and is highly esteemed by many friends. He lives at No. 232 Church street, Evansville, and has been a resident of the community forty-six years.  

Source: "Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families." Chicago:J.H. Beers & Co., 1901. pp. 846-847.  


In the 1850 census of Hope, Hamilton County, New York, Mary Ann Wadsworth Carpenter resides next to her brother Daniel and his wife, Lydia Brundage. Her husband was still alive but not at home, perhaps out in Wisconsin.

105 108 Carpenter   Mary Ann   34  F   ["]
                    Charles    13  M   ["] 1
                    John       11  M   ["] 1
                    Laura       9  M   ["] 1
                    William     8  M   ["] 1
                    Mary Ann    2  F   ["]

106 109 Wadsworth   Daniel     36  M   Farmer  2400 ["]
                    Lydia      26  F   ["]
                    Amon J.     9  M   ["] 1
                    John P.     7  M   ["] 1
                    Harry       2 mos  M  ["]



Luther Lake Cross, Jr.

LUTHER LAKE CROSS, JR. - The farming and dairying interests of Charlotte Township have a worthy representative in Luther Cross, Jr., who is the owner of a fine farm on section 45. It is a well-improved place. Luther Lake Cross, Jr., was born on the homestead farm where he now resides, July 9, 1881, a son of Luther Lake Cross, Sr., and Fanna Amelia (Tarlox) Cross.

Alonzo Cross (grandfather), the pioneer in Charlotte Township, came from Hamilton County, N.Y., to Chautauqua County, N.Y., and settled in Charlotte Township. Here he purchased a tract of land on section 45 and engaged in the farming and stock raising business. He continued in this occupation for some time and then accepted a position as mail carrier from Charlotte Center to Sinclairville, in which position he remained until his demise. Alonzo Cross married Amelia Lake, who was born in Charlotte township, a daughter of Luther Lake, pioneer settler of Chautauqua County. To this union were born five children: Luther Lake, of whom further; Delvina, married ----- Walkins, and resided in Michigan; Helen, married William Moore, and resided in Michigan; Sylvester, who resided in Sinclairville; Emma, who married Homer Tarbox, and resided in Rochester, N.Y.; Corwin, who resided in Sinclairville and Philadelphia, and now lives in Jamestown, N.Y.

Luther Lake Cross (father), a son of Alonzo and Amelia (Lake) Cross, was born on the homestead farm in Charlotte Township, April 24, 1837. He was educated in the public schools of his native village, and after laying aside his textbooks took up the occupation of farming and dairying on his father's farm. He soon made many improvements on the old homestead, and Mr. Cross built the present house. Mr. Cross, Sr., was also very prominent in social circles as well as business circles, being a member of the Grange. On March 9, 1860, Mr. Cross, Sr., was united in marriage with Fanna Amelia Tarlox, born in Chautauqua County, N.Y., a daughter of Win and Sarah (Wood) Tarlox. To Mr. And Mrs. Cross were born four children, as follows: 1. Ruby, born March 14, 1868; she was educated in the public schools of Charlotte Township, and after taking a course in the Fredonia Normal School accepted a position as teacher in the public schools of her native village; She married Clarence Bushnell. 2. Anna Belle, born Oct. 20, 1876; married F.D. Bumpus, of Sinclairville. 3. Agnes S., born Aug. 16, 1879; married Burt Chase. 4. Luther Lake, Jr., of whom further.

Luther Lake Cross, Jr., whose name heads this review, received his early education in the district schools of his township. He completed the work of the high school and then finished with a course at the Normal School. He afterwards engaged in teaching, which profession he followed fourteen years in Charlotte Township, Ellery and Stockton. In 1909 he discontinued his teaching in order to help manage his father's farm. This occupation he continued until the death of his father, when he assumed full charge of his agricultural business, continuing in same to the present time. Mr. Cross, Jr., supports the Republican Party in politics, and is a member of Grange No. 669, of which he was master for the term of two years. He is also a member of the Farm Bureau and Dairymen's League of Chautauqua County.

On Aug. 5, 1914, Mr. Cross, Jr., was united in marriage with Maria S. Young, a daughter of Milo Young. She was born in Steamburg, Cattaraugus County, N.Y. To this union has been born one daughter, Katherine Lake, born Jan. 29, 1917.

Mr. Cross is a valuable addition to the township, because he is a man of energy, who is always found on the side of right and progress, and who cooperates in all measures for the general good and benefit of his community.

Source: Downs, John P. and Fenwick Y. Hedley. History of Chautauqua County New York And It's People. Volume III. Pp. 619 - 620. (C) 1921. Boston, New York, Chicago. American Historical Society, Inc.


John R. Davis

JOHN R. DAVIS, has been a factor in the Broadview community of Yellowstone County for over ten years, has a ranch ten miles west of Broadview and is also serving as county commissioner.

He was born at Fort Edward, Washington County, New York, February 6, 1873. His paternal ancestors came from Wales and were colonial settlers in Vermont. His grandfather, Milo Davis, was born in Vermont in 1815 and was an early day lumber operator in Warren County, New York, near Bolton, but spent his last years at Fort Edward, retired, where he died in 1911. He married a Miss Shedd, a native of Vermont, who also died at Fort Edward, New York. Samuel L. Davis, father of John R., was born at Bolton in Warren County, New York, in 1841, was reared and married in that county and was connected with the same line of business as his father. For a time he lived at Fort Edward as agent for a lumber company, in 1882 removed to Indian Lake, New York, where he engaged in the lumber business, and is now living retired at Indian Lake. He served several years as assessor of Hamilton County, New York, and also as justice of the peace and in other township offices. He is a republican and in 1861 enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-second New York Infantry and was all through the Civil was. He is a member of the Baptist Church and the Odd Fellows fraternity. Samuel L. Davis married Jane E. Bolton. She was born in Sheffield, England, in 1841 and died at Indian Lake, New York, in January, 1917. Mattie, the oldest of three children, is the wife of Nelson St. Marie, a merchant at Indian Lake, New York. The other two are John R. and Francis S., both residents of Broadview, Montana, the latter also a farmer.

John R. Davis graduated from the high school of Fort Edward. New York, in 1888. From that time until he came West in 1906 he was employed in the lumber business with his father. He spent two years on a farm in South Dakota and in 1908 came to the Broadview community of Montana, where he homesteaded 160 acres. Later he owned 480 acres but sold half a section of this in April 1919. One hundred and sixty acres he retained as his home ranch, ten miles west of Broadview, and it is highly developed as a farm. Since its organization in 1915 Mr. Davis has been president of the Farmers Elevator Company in Broadview.

Mr. Davis was elected county commissioner of Stillwater County for the six year term in 1916. He is affiliated with Stillwater Lodge No. 62, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Billings Lodge No. 394 of the Elks, and is a member of Britton, South Dakota Lodge of Odd Fellows, having joined that order at Johnsburg in Warren County, New York.

September 21, 1910, at Billings, he married Miss Marietta Thayer, daughter of Dewitt and Florence Thayer. Her parents are farmers at Britton, South Dakota, and Mrs. Davis is a graduate of the high school there. To their marriage were born five children: Geneva, born July 29, 1912; Florence, born September 5, 1913; Montana, born September 19, 1914, and died October 17, 1915; Lois, born May 15, 1916; and Irene, born November 26, 1917.

Source: Stout, Tom. "Montana Its Story and Biography." Volume I. Pg. 250. ©1921. The American Historical Society. Chicago and New York


HON. George H. Durand

HON. GEORGE H. DURAND. It is always interesting to trace the small things that have had their influence in changing the channel of a man's life course. Our subject, besides his high standing as a lawyer, has as a sequence to that standing, attained a political prominence that would not have come to him had he adhered to his original intention, which was to be a farmer. His course in life was changed by the influence of a lawyer, who directed his attention to a book entitled "Cowen's Treaties," which so pleased the young man that he recognized his logical tendencies and determined to adopt the law as his profession.

Although known in divers and agreeable ways, perhaps more widely so as Past Grand Master of the Free and Accepted Masons of Michigan, his reputation as an able lawyer and one to whom statescraft is familiar, is widely extended throughout this state. That he stands high in the estimation of the people of his locality is shown by the fact that they have honored him with the highest office within the gift of his district. In 1875 - 76 he was elected member of Congress from the Sixth District, and his constituents were fully satisfied with the ability and dignity with which he presented their claims before the general representatives of the people.

Mr. Durand is one whose face is a mirror wherein is reflected a most pleasing frankness, open-heartedness and liberality, and his honesty has become proverbial. By the people of his immediate locality he has been elected to various high positions and has served as Mayor of the city. Having struggled hard for his position, he has risen to the top of the ladder and enjoys the rare confidence of his fellow-men. Mr. Durand was born in Cobleskill, Schoharie County, N.Y., February 21, 1838.

When a boy our subject went to Moorehouse [sic], Hamilton County, N.Y., and lived in the inspiring altitude of the Adirondack Mountains from six until fourteen years of age, and thence went with his family to Livingston County, N.Y., where he was brought up on a farm near Mt. Morris. He attended the common schools and finished at Lima College, where he spent two terms and then engaged in teaching for one winter. Thinking to better his condition, in the fall of 1856 George H. Durand came to Michigan and in the spring of 1858 located in Flint. He at once began the study of law under Col. Fenton, but made his headquarters at Goodrich.

Our subject was admitted to practice at the Genesee County bar in 1858, when he located permanently in this city, and although his practice has been large here it has not been confined to this point alone, but has extended throughout the state. Aside from his regular law practice, Mr. Durand has held numerous local offices as well as more exalted positions. As a lawyer he is recognized as able and painstaking, having a broad grasp of the philosophy of the law. He has been interested in many important cases which have shed luster on the jurisprudence of the state. He has been Alderman and School Director, and was Mayor during the term of 1873-74, and in the last-named year was nominated member of Congress on the Democratic ticket. He held this position during 1875-76, and then retired in order to give his attention exclusively to the law. While in Congress he served as Chairman of the Committee on Commerce.

Source: "Portrait And Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties, Michigan," Pp. 271-272. (C) 1892. Chicago. Chapman Bros.


Andrew Murray, Jr.

Andrew Murray, Jr., is among Pulaski's most substantial merchants and he also holds the office of postmaster. He was born at Edinboro, Scotland, June 12, 1880, the son of Andrew and Agnes J. (Murray) Murray.

Andrew Murray, Sr., who lives retired at Long Lake, Hamilton County, New York, is now 84 years of age. He came to the United States about 1888 and almost immediately became superintendent of the estate and preserve of F. C. Durant, of Philadelphia. Mr. Murray continued in that capacity for many years and since his retirement he has lived at Long Lake. He is a Republican and holds membership in the Methodist Church. His wife was also a native of Scotland, born at Aberdeen. She died in 1915 and is buried at Long Lake. To Mr. and Mrs. Murray were born the following children: 1. William, lives at Miami, Fla. 2. John, lives at Chester, Pa. 3. Margaret Sabattis, lives at Long Lake. 4. Andrew, Jr., the subject of this sketch. 5. Isabelle Cobb, lives at Brooklyn, N.Y.

The boyhood of Andrew Murray, Jr., was spent in his native land until he was eight years old. He then was brought to this country by his parents and he completed his schooling at Long Lake. He is also a graduate of Albany Business College and attended Central City Business College, at Syracuse. He became interested in the wholesale drug business at Syracuse with Charles Hubbard, Son & Company, with whom he was identified for a period of 16 years. In 1919 Mr. Murray came to Pulaski and has since successfully engaged in business as the proprietor of Murray's Store. He has held the office of postmaster since June 19, 1929.

In 1910 Mr. Murray was united in marriage with Miss Una C. Cooper, of Syracuse, the daughter of John C. and Jane K. (Kellet) Cooper, both natives of England. Mr. Cooper was telegraph editor of the Syracuse Journal for many years, and is now deceased. His widow still resides at Syracuse. There are four children in the Murray family: 1. Robert A., born in 1912, attends Syracuse University. 2. Jane V., born in 1915, a graduate of Pulaski Academy, class of 1931. 3. Bruce D., born in 1917, attends Pulaski High School. 4. Dorothy W., born in 1920.

Mr. Murray is a Republican, a member of the Episcopal Church and belongs to the Masonic Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Grange. He has served as a member of the Board of Education for ten years and is a director of the Pulaski Commercial Club.

Source:Landon, Harry F. "The North Country." Volume 1. (C) 1932. Historical Publishing Company. Indianapolis, Indiana.

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